Russia will buy an additional batch of Su-35 fighters worth about $1 billion
MOSCOW, (BM) – The Russian Armed Forces will sign a new contract worth $1 billion [70 billion rubles] for the supply of Su-35 generation 4 ++ fighters, said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.
Read more: Su-35 Flanker-E – Russian 4++ generation fighter jet [review]
“By the end of the year, we plan to conclude an additional state contract for the supply of multifunctional Su-35S aircraft. The amount of the contract will be 70 billion rubles,” Shoigu said on Wednesday in Komsomolsk-on-Amur at a meeting with representatives of the military-industrial complex.
“Actually, we came for this, to make sure that the enterprise is able to fulfill this contract,” the minister said.
Su-35 is a super-maneuverable multipurpose fighter of the 4 ++ generation. Developed by the Sukhoi company (part of the UAC) and serially produced at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (KnAAZ). The enterprise serially produces Su-35 fighters both for the RF Ministry of Defense and for foreign customers.
The new universal engines may also be the reason for this purchase
The Su-35 is not only the best Russian aircraft at the moment, but perhaps the best aircraft in its class in the world. Military experts from around the world say that this Russian fighter can easily cope with the American stealth of the fifth generation F-35.
So, there is a very logical action in the idea of Russia filling its air squadrons with such a fighter.
Another reason may be the news from a few weeks ago that the Russian military industry is starting to use completely newly developed universal engines for the following fighters – Su-27, Su-30 and Su-35.
Read more: Russian Army receives Su-57 fighter jets with the new engines from mid-2020
As Evgeny Semivelichenko, managing director of the Lyulka Design Bureau said on July 21, Russia is working on a universal engine for Russian fighters.
Semivelichenko said that “the possibility of creating a kind of universal engine” is being considered. It will use the “previous engine components”. At the same time, it is planned to obtain “higher technical characteristics”.
The universal engine can be installed on the Su-27, Su-30, Su-35 without modifying the airframe. As Semivelichenko said, “there is such an order from the Ministry of Defense.”
Also, the Lyulka Design Bureau is technically ready to start mass production of the second stage engine for the Su-57, but it is necessary to complete its tests, Semivelichenko said.
In addition, he said that it is planned to manufacture the “hot part” of the VK-650V demonstrator engine by the end of the year to replace the French one on the Ka-226T light helicopter.
We will remind, it was reported that Russia planned to create a hybrid aircraft engine using alternative fuels.
Read more: F-35 vs. Su-35 – who is better and who will win in a modern air battle?
How many Su-35 fighter jets does Russia currently have?
Currently, the Russian Federation has 88 Su-35 fighters in service, and the last 10 of the order from 2016 are expected to be delivered by the end of this year. Thus, at the beginning of 2021, Russia will have 98 Su-35s in operation.
It should be noted that Russia has also sent an indefinite amount to its air base in Syria, but their number is in the total of 88.
Currently in the world, in addition to Russia, the following countries operate with the Su-35: China, Egypt and Indonesia, and countries such as India, Venezuela and others are also interested.
More about Su-35 Flanker-E
Suchoi Su-35 is the name for two heavily upgraded versions of the Su-27 (Flanker). These aircraft are sometimes also referred to as Super Flankers.
The first variant was developed in the Soviet Union as early as the 1980s. The version, initially referred to as the Su-27M, had a revised airframe, duck wings, an enlarged radome for the N-011 radar and improved avionics. Financial problems in the 1990s and a lack of export demand contributed to the fact that the first Su-35 design was not developed to series production level despite numerous prototypes. Some machines were used by the Russian aerobatic team “Russkije Witjasi”.
In 2003, Suchoi began to modernize the Su-27 again extensively in order to create an interim solution until the Su-57 was introduced. The duck wings and the air brake of the first Su-35 draft were omitted, the airframe was reinforced and the avionics and radar improved.
Read more: Su-35 vs F-22: who is stronger in aerial combat
Read more: Top 5 best Russian fighter jets – 4++ and 5th generations
The more powerful engines have a thrust vector control and should allow supersonic speeds without afterburner. The Russian Air Force ordered a total of 48 machines bearing the type designation Su-35S. Another 50 aircraft were ordered in January 2016.
Based on the operational experience in Syria, among other things, the air inlets of the engines are modified to improve protection against foreign objects. Avionics hardware and software are being adapted to better combat ground targets.
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